Stop The Fighting
By Jeremy D. Joy

"BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES" - 1 THESSALONIANS 5:13

We live in a world characterized by conflict and controversy. It is everywhere: at work, at home, in the news, and, unfortunately, even in the church, which is the worst place for quarreling to occur. No church is immune and it is no surprise because Christians are flawed too. Satan tempts us to fight with one another by appealing to our pride and we sometimes cave to the pressure. "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" (James 4:1).

Problems are nothing new. There were debates and disputes in the first century church over circumcision. Some bound circumcision upon Gentile Christians as a matter of salvation, not as a matter of culture or custom. The controversy became heated and it had to be addressed head-on by the apostles and the elders in the church at Jerusalem. "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.' Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elder, about this question (Acts 15:1-3).

The "Jerusalem Council" in Acts 15:6-29 is a model for problem-solving in the church today including the following observations:

Legalism causes problems. It involves elevating human opinion to the status of divine law and binding it upon others. It divides instead of unites.

Church leaders should be the problem-solvers. The inexperienced and immature are not qualified to handle a crisis in a spiritual way. It only contributes to division.

The Holy Spirit must be involved. The Holy Spirit spearheaded the meeting at Jerusalem from start to finish. We must follow the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament and exemplify the fruit of the Spirit if we are to find a scriptural solution.

The church in general has a reputation for fussing and fighting with one another, much of which is unnecessary and unwarranted. Our track record is poor, but even worse is our inability to resolve differences. Imagine the positive message that we would send the world if we maintained a Christ-like spirit and sought the truth above our childishness and pettiness in the midst of conflict. "Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel" (Philippians 1:27).

 

 

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